Turkey Tail Mushrooms 80 g, 40 g, 20 g

Turkey Tail Mushrooms – 80 g ($16.99), 40 g ($10.99), 20 g ($6.99)

Benefits:
Nutrients  Due to its ability to help cancer patients, turkey tail is considered one of the best researched mushrooms and sits right on top with other medicinal mushrooms, such as reishi, cordyceps, oyster and maitake. Many edible mushrooms contain selenium, vitamin D and vitamin B3, which is part of what makes them strong immune boosters, in addition to the nutrient-rich soil and decaying matter where they live.

Turkey tail benefits start with working as an immune system booster. They contain B-glucans, a type of polysaccharides, within the fungal cell walls. When eaten, these B-glucans provide receptors in the small intestine area that get the immune-boosting power in full force. This power puts the turkey tail mushroom in the adaptogen category. Adaptogen herbs work to resist numerous stress factors that we face daily, providing support to the immune system and stimulating energy levels. Usually, adaptogens are herbal compounds found in things like adaptogenic mushrooms, roots, berries, barks and leaves.

Furthermore, mushrooms are composed of compacted mycelium, the vegetative part of fungus that’s jam-packed with nutrition, such as polysaccharides, proteins, minerals, and vitamins B and D. The mycelium structure is loaded with helpful enzymes, antimicrobial agents and antiviral compounds. In fact, this mycelium is more important than you may think by helping provide nutrient-dense soil, something our land is often lacking, which can help neutralize the toxins in our immune systems.

Protein: With 11 grams per 100 grams of dried turkey tail mushrooms, they are beneficial for muscle repair and immune system function.

Fat: Containing just 1.35 grams per 100 grams, they are low in fat, making them an excellent option for a low-fat diet.

Niacin (Vitamin B3): Providing 39 mg per 100 grams, which constitutes 243% of the daily value, niacin plays a crucial role in energy conversion, supporting the digestive system, and hormone production.

Phenolic Compounds: These antioxidants help reduce inflammation, which may lower the risk of chronic diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

Immune System  The turkey tail mushroom has been shown to modulate the immune system, helping fight infections, illness and diseases. With a high concentration of two polysaccharides — polysaccharide-K (krestin, or PSK) and polysaccharide peptides (PSP) — with immune-boosting properties, turkey tail mushroom features antiviral activity alongside low toxicity. These compounds stimulate and balance immunity to help fight infections, cancer, and other diseases. PSP encourages the production of monocytes, a type of white blood cell that improves immunity. PSK activates natural killer cells to combat disease and suppresses inflammation, providing protection against inflammatory ailments. Research underscores turkey tail mushrooms’ significant role in enhancing immune defenses.

Cancer  Adjuvant therapy for cancer means additional treatment that’s delivered after the primary treatment. It’s intended to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. For more than 30 years, medicinal mushrooms have been used as adjuncts to standard cancer treatments in Japan and China. They are used for various types of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer.

PSK, the best known active compound found in turkey tail mushroom, has been studied in patients with several types of cancer, and it has been safely used for cancer in Japan with few reported side effects. Studies show that PSK helps repair immune cell damage that’s caused by chemotherapy and strengthen the immune system. In Japan, PSK is meant to help patients undergoing chemotherapy restore their immune status.

More research is needed to better understand the benefits of turkey tail mushroom for cancer, but there is evidence that it may help significantly improve survival, according to a review done by the National Cancer Institute. In fact, a review of 13 clinical trials discovered that cancer patients given turkey tail in tandem with standard treatments improved their lifespans compared to those who received only chemotherapy.

A study published in Global Advances in Health and Medicine revealed that an 83-year-old woman who was diagnosed with advanced, metastatic inflammatory breast cancer led a disease-free life after using turkey tail mushroom. Though she continued chemotherapy, she consumed capsules of turkey tail mushroom at the same time.

Scientists believe that the immune response of the turkey tail mushrooms boosted the woman’s immune system by recognizing the tumor, which increased the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. Other studies have shown that turkey tail extracts not only inhibit the growth of some cancer cells but also improve immune function in people with certain cancers.

In a 2023 study, turkey tail mushroom exhibited anti-melanoma activity in vitro. In particular, extracts demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity towards human melanoma cell lines. Study authors declared that turkey tail mushroom’s therapeutic potential for melanoma merited further study.

Gut Health  Studies indicate that mycelium in turkey tail mushroom supports gut health, as polysaccharides act as prebiotics in the digestive system. This means that it can help the growth of the good bacteria, including acidophilus and bifidobacterium, in the gut microbiome. A balanced, healthy gut microbiome is connected to better gut health, a robust immune system and a reduced risk of gastrointestinal problems.

One study showed that turkey tail mushroom improved the ratio of good bacteria to bad bacteria. Study volunteers took 3,600 mg of turkey tail PSP extract each day for eight weeks.

Athletic Performance  Turkey tail mushrooms may boost athletic performance. Research indicates that turkey tail extract increased endurance and strength in mice. It also reduced their physical fatigue and lowered blood sugar levels. By supporting faster recovery, these mushrooms could benefit athletes. Although human trials are needed, the findings suggest potential advantages for those seeking to enhance stamina and energy levels.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).  According to a study of 61 patients with gum disease testing positive for oral HPV, 88 percent of the 41 patients who received both turkey tail and reishi mushrooms helped eliminate HPV from the cervix or mouth after only two months of treatment. Studies indicate their beneficial effects in treating HPV and preventing related cancers like cervical and oropharyngeal cancer.

The polysaccharides in turkey tail, particularly PSK and PSP, not only stop the development of cancer cells caused by HPV but also induce their death. Also, these mushrooms might enhance the efficacy of the HPV vaccine, offering a multifaceted approach to combating HPV.

HIV/AIDS: A trial revealed that the use of turkey tail mushroom, in conjunction with other wild medicinal East African mushrooms, may be useful in treating patients with Kaposi’s sarcoma, a skin cancer often affecting those with HIV/AIDS. The same product has also benefited patients with HIV/AIDS even without the sarcoma.

Bone Health  Turkey tail mushrooms significantly benefit bone health. Animal model research shows the extract results in thicker, less porous bones for Osteoporosis sufferers. The research used animal studies and research must explore the impact on human bone health. Findings suggest turkey tail may protect against bone loss due to certain cancer treatments.

Cognitive Function   Turkey tail is rich in antioxidants that may improve cognitive function. It contains compounds like PSK and PSP. These antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress, potentially enhancing memory and problem-solving skills. Research shows antioxidative properties could reduce age-related cognitive decline. Need for further studies remains, but existing data highlights turkey tail’s potential in supporting brain health. Including turkey tail in the diet may offer cognitive health benefits over time.

Blood Sugar  Turkey tail mushrooms improve blood sugar control. Research in animal models shows that these extracts reduce blood sugar levels. They also enhance insulin resistance, which helps stabilize glucose levels. Turkey tail can prevent complications related to type 2 diabetes. This makes it a valuable natural supplement for managing diabetes. Turkey tail in your diet can offer several benefits for blood sugar regulation.

Botanical Name: Trametes vesicolor
English: versicolor, Wild Turkey, Yun Zhi Also, known as: Coriolus versicolor, Polyporus
Habitat: Asia
Origin: China
Harvested: Wild
Parts Used: Mushroom

General Information:
All three Latin names for turkey tail mushrooms refer to the same common medicinal mushroom. The Chinese call them Yun Zhi (cloud fungus) and the Japanese call them Kawaratake (mushroom by the riverbank). Foraging Witches Butter Mushroom Chicken of the Woods Mushroom Recipes Foraging Reishi Mushrooms Foraging Shaggy Mane Mushrooms Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Hericium Erinaceus): Identification & Uses Foraging Black Chokeberry: Identification & Uses (Aronia mela… Foraging Morel Mushrooms Foraging Butter Nuts (Juglans cinerea): Butternut

Turkey Tail Mushrooms are one of the most common mushrooms in the forest, and they grow all around the world. They grow on almost any type of wood, and there are no known poisonous look-alikes. Yet they’re also one of the most expensive medicinal mushrooms to buy. The high price tag is not because they’re difficult to forage, but driven by the fact that they have so many astounding medicinal benefits.

Most people are a bit intimidated by foraging their own medicinal mushrooms, and they’re willing to defer to others, even if it means paying a steep price for the privilege. Turkey Tail mushrooms are known by three different scientific names: Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor, and Polyporus versicolor. All three Latin names for turkey tail mushrooms refer to the same common medicinal mushroom. The Chinese call them Yun Zhi (cloud fungus) and the Japanese call them Kawaratake (mushroom by the riverbank).

 

How to use:
We make these suggestions to help you get the best benefit from the herbs that you’re choosing to improve your health. Also we make these ideas and recommendations so that consuming them easier and better fit into your lifestyle by adding them to the food that you already eat.
For the full health benefit, it is best to consume (or use the whole herb in poultices) the whole herb. All of the compounds in the herb act best together, as nature intends. Extracts draw out the most prominent beneficial compounds and may concentrate them. What is not extracted can be helpful in ways that we do not yet understand.

Cut Pieces or Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use cut pieces or powdered herb.
Food Preparation: You can add powdered or pieces of herb (if the pieces you buy are bigger than you like, a coffee or herb grinder will quickly reduce) to any yogurt, smoothie, apple or other sauces, spreads, salads or other foods more familiar to you that don’t use heat. Heat can be damaging to the beneficial compounds in the herb. Other options like oatmeal, scrambled eggs, pasta sauce, soup, cookies and anything else that fits your lifestyle, but minimizing (by adding near the end of cooking) the heat is helpful.
Also, for children, you can mix powdered herb with honey or glycerin to make paste. The thicker the paste, the more potent and herbal in taste. The sweet taste of honey and glycerin will help medicine go down. The resulting liquid is called an electuary.
For seeds in general, but especially small seeds, it’s best to grind these to break the protective hulls a short time before consumption. This makes all the benefits available, rather than some remaining locked inside the hulls that are unbroken by insufficient chewing.
To make adding herbs even easier, you could add a week’s worth of your chosen herb(s) to an amount of, for example, yogurt that you would eat in a week. Mix thoroughly and eat this each day of the week. So you make once /week and just eat each other day.
Hot Infusion: The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. The heat from making tea can degrade some of the beneficial compounds in the herb. This method minimizes this effect. For the full health benefit, it is recommended to consume what is left over after making tea.
Decoctions: Decoctions are suitable for roots, barks, large seeds & berries, and other dense material. The simple way to make decoction is, in a saucepan, add 1 tablespoon of dried herbs to 1 cup of water, Bring the water to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30-60 minutes with the pot covered. Squeeze out as much as liquid as possible. Best practice is to drink the liquid and also consume the solid material that remains. Herb pieces can also be used.
Powdered Herb:
There are different ways to use powdered herb.
Capsules: HerbsCrafters makes capsules guaranteed to be filled with the pure herb with no filler or any other products. You can also use powdered herb to make your own capsules at home. These capsules are best taken with liquid to aid in digestion and absorption and to ensure it doesn’t stick in your throat.
Poultice: Poultice can be made with an herbal powder and liquid (mostly water) to form a paste which is then applied to the skin. This method is very helpful for skin conditions.
Herbal shot: Powdered herb can be mixed with water, fruit juice or other liquid to make herbal shot.

Tips:
You can sweeten your herbal decoctions with bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder or licorice root powder.

Precautions:
You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
All information on this website is for educational purpose ONLY.
This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.